The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This image was made in Yosemite during my California road trip in October of last year. On this leg of the trip, we left Sacramento and drove toward Mono Lake, where we planned to spend a few days. Looking at the map, there were three possible routes, and one of them passed through Yosemite. I had never taken that road before, so we decided to go that way, and I’m so glad we did. The entire drive was beautiful and serendipitously we arrived at this viewpoint right around sunset.
I took a few photos, but I made one big mistake. I was lazy and kept my 24–105mm lens on the camera instead of switching to my 100–400mm. This image is actually a substantial crop from a photo taken at 105mm. Because of that, it’s not the best quality, but I did my best to bring out as much detail and keep the image quality as best as possible.
Specific Feedback
How do you feel about the position of Half Dome? Do you think it would be better if it was a bit more left in the frame?
Is there anything I missed or overlooked in my processing of this image?
Technical Details
Canon RP with a 24-105mm lens at 105mm (originally a horizontal frame but I cropped this significantly)
1/200 sec at f/8, ISO 100
Handheld
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Vision and Purpose:
Conceptual:
Emotional Impact and Mood:
Composition:
Balance and Visual Weight:
Depth and Dimension:
Color:
Lighting:
Processing:
Technical:
Tom, I know this view of Half Dome quite well. The light here is very nice. I think you might be able to pull a little more detail from the foreground trees.
The placement of the dome looks just fine to me.
Half Dome’s American Indian name is Tis-sa-ack.
Did you get any shots of Tenaya Lake and the peaks to the east? That viewpoint is one of the all-time greats.
-P
Tom,
Your timing was indeed fortuitous. The warm golden light of the setting sun beautifully illuminates the face of Half Dome. What I really like about this image is the atmospheric effect of the haze. Thank you for not going crazy with ‘Dehaze’. I think the position of Half Dome is just right. Moving it to the left might disrupt the patterns of light on the ridges mirroring and leading your eye to the illuminated face of Half Dome. The diagonal line of the foreground trees leads directly to the canyon and the glow of the canyon leads the eye to Half Dome. If anything, I would recommend cropping a little from the bottom to keep the viewers eye from dropping into the black hole on the LL and then out of the frame, but this is all subjective. You did a great job of retaining detail in your extreme crop. We are all guilty of being lazy on occasion not changing lenses, not setting up the tripod, or just not stopping to take the picture.
If you ever pass that way again, try to get there in time to explore the ridge across the highway from Olmstead Point. There you will find glacial polished granite, orphaned boulders, exposed tree roots and all kinds of wonderful things to take photos of.
I know this view and you greatly did it justice. The light on Tis sa ack is just beautiful and the color contrast with the blue and green in the FG really makes this image.
Gorgeous light, I like the placement of the dome in your composition, Tom but I’m wondering if moving it slightly to the left will bring the tree on the right side of the frame more into view so it’s not so cut off. I agree with @Preston_Birdwell about possibly being able to pull some more detail out of the foreground trees. There is pretty good detail for a heavily cropped shot. The processing looks good to me. Definitely not overdone in any way. You’ve got me wanting to visit the high country of Yosemite now after seeing this image.
You did justice to a wonderful viewpoint – one I’ve only managed in boring midday light. (That road is a long drive!) All said above and I’ll only add congratulations on the EP!
Thank you all for taking the time to comment, and my apologies for the delayed response. I’ve been under the weather for most of the past week and didn’t feel well enough to spend any meaningful time at the computer. Oh, and thank you so much for the Editors Pick, I’m honoured!
Sometimes our best images come when we least expect them. In this case, I had no idea this viewpoint even existed, so it was a (pleasant) surprise when we rounded the curve in the road and came across the incredible view.
Preston - yes, I did take a few shots of Tenaya Lake. I made some from the lake shore, but it was getting late, the light was fading fast, and I couldn’t quite find the right composition. I do have another photo from a higher vantage point along the road that I rather like. I might post it here to get some feedback.
I’d definitely love to return. I really enjoyed this part of Yosemite, and I also want to revisit the Bristlecone Pine Forest to explore it further.
Hi Tom,
I somehow missed this wonderful image on the first time around; glad I picked it up this time. The warm golden light in both the sky and Half Dome is absolutely gorgeous. To answer your question; the position of Half Dome looks just fine for my tastes. My only suggestion would be a crop from the bottom of about one half of the trees. Sorry, I have one more tiny suggestion. I did not notice it until I opened the large version; great details for a crop BTW; but there is a boulder; just left of and a little below center that has a light blue oval color to it that caught my eye. Maybe it’s just me because no one else mentioned it. I quite like this!
Thank you @Ed_Lowe ! And good eye for spotting that blueish boulder. I had not noticed but now I can’t unsee it. I’ll try correcting that and while I’m in there I’ll play around with the cropping as well.
